Planning Adult Horse Camp Without a Budget

Scott Cooper: Welcome back to another episode of Horse Show Bestie. I'm your co-host Scott Cooper.

Crysta Brown: And I'm your other co-host, Crysta Brown. Hi, Scott.

Scott Cooper: I'm all... I'm alive.

Crysta Brown: I hate doing this without you just for the record.

Scott Cooper: ⁓ I've been listening to the ones you've done without me and I had had pangs of jealousy. I'm like, wait, this is my podcast too.

Crysta Brown: Yeah, as you should. like, I promise you the whole time I was like, I mean, this is fun, but this is supposed to be an us thing for a reason.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. I know. Well, thank you for covering for me. It's been, ⁓ my God, it's been the most insane like few weeks and it's I have like a bit of a breather right now for like a second and then like full throttle again. Y'all cannot wait for like June 10th. Like just we gotta, we gotta get through it. But such is life in education. All you fellow educators out there, stay strong. May is brutal.

Crysta Brown: the most work. you

Scott Cooper: Brutal, brutal, but it's fun. ⁓ There's been some enjoying, wait, enjoyable? That's what I'm looking for, enjoyable moments and also stuff you just working to get through. last weekend was our school's Gymkhana. So the ninth graders all, it's a culmination of their ninth grade horse program year. So ⁓ many people, it's funny, they have no idea what the word Gymkhana means, ⁓ which many of you should.

Crysta Brown: oooo Okay.

Scott Cooper: probably know. Although people have asked me what's the origin of that word? And I'm like, think like old English is going to be my guess. I don't know. I could Google it if I was not this lazy.

Crysta Brown: Yeah, I genuinely have no idea, but yeah, it's a thing. The games.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. No, I was I was explaining it to people as like, it's like coming to watch a track meet. But yeah, they do like poles and barrels and keyhole and figure eight and all the fast stuff. So, you know, it's exciting. It's fun to watch. And you have literally 100 horses out there doing it like they just like, there's a three acre field, imagine a three acre arena, like, probably that's probably what WEC Florida is, right? Yeah, like the big stadium. But yeah, just like single lanes. But anyway, it's a good time.

Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah, huge.

Scott Cooper: But you know, it is work. It took my whole Saturday and ⁓ this week was nuts too. all that to say, thank you for holding down the house while I, you know, was a real adult.

Crysta Brown: Hey guys, a quick word from our sponsors. Yeah. Well, I'm sorry that you've been busy, but I'm also glad that you can afford horses. So, you know, it's kind of a give and take thing. Any updates?

Scott Cooper: For years, Naomi Clayton of NAC Equine Services has helped paint and quarter owners, breeders, and trainers streamline the often overwhelming process of marketing and placing horses in the great new homes. She has a proven background as a paint and pinto breeder and amateur show exhibitor, as well as nearly a decade of experience as an equine sales agent. NAC Equine Services doesn't just post ads. For each listing, she also creates a detailed marketing plan, organizes photos, Yeah, thank God. And yeah, I some exciting news, guys. Chip is coming home.

Crysta Brown: You made a decision!

Scott Cooper: I made a decision y'all it has been like that's been on my mind so much but yeah ⁓ hopefully by June 1st well it will be by June 1st ⁓ Chip will be living nearby in beautiful Carpinteria about a mile from the beach ⁓ you know I started looking around different barns around Santa Barbara and you get what you pay for here there's really really nice barns and then the ones that are $600 you're like creates sale videos and manages communication so you don't get bogged down in the details. Her commitment to professionalism and finding the right home shows in the countless clients who rave about their friendly, efficient and smooth experience from first contact to the final sale or purchase. Whether you're looking to sell or find your next partner, trust a service with real industry knowledge and reviews that speak for themselves. NAC Equine Services has competitive and transparent pricing, $50 listing fee,

Crysta Brown: Yeah.

Scott Cooper: Everything's going to help together by bailing twine. I don't feel that great about this, yeah. But I found this great one. It's actually a hunter jumper trainers barn, but I called her. I was like, you know, you just don't know what to expect. I was to the point where I was just contacting people, even if they didn't say they did board. And so I called her and she's like, actually, I want just borders like I don't need any more clients. I don't need more lesson students like I'm good.

Crysta Brown: Yeah, it do be like that.

Scott Cooper: signed contract and 5 % commission. Find her on Facebook under the NAC Equine or check out her website at nac-equine-services.com.

Crysta Brown: Now back to the episode.

Scott Cooper: I just would love someone to like fill a stall. So it worked out. It's a cute little barn It's probably like 25 horses in it. All 100 jumpers. I'm sure I'll be the only Western saddle in there. ⁓ Yeah, exactly. ⁓ But it's like literally a mile from the beach. It's she says it's always like very temperate there. There's turnout. ⁓ Yeah, I'm just like, I'm nervous, y'all. I'm really nervous to like be the one.

Crysta Brown: Cool. Welcome to my world. That's gonna be awesome.

Scott Cooper: semi in charge of my own horse. Like obviously he's in board so you know they'll be taking care of the day to day stuff but it's a little weird like I'm I was all excited I'm like ⁓ I'm be able to ride three times a week or four or whatever and I'm like ⁓ I don't ride he doesn't get ridden like he'll get turned out but yeah it's a little bit more responsibility but I'm excited to have him close and I want to

Crysta Brown: In charge. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: I want to take him to the beach guys. wants, he like wants to, he's always wanted to do that according to the animal communicator. So we can, obviously a fact, ⁓ but I need like, I was just thinking through all the stuff I don't have. I probably did at one time. I don't know where it went. Exactly. Exactly. I need grooming, get any fly spray, I need lunge lines. Like all the stuff that you just is.

Crysta Brown: which is obviously a fact, so. Yeah. But you have to like buy a grooming kit, which feels so simple, but like you have to own that. Yeah. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: community where at our garden. ⁓ Garden, what did I just say? Community at our barn. I don't know why I said garden guys. I have like half a brain cell left. ⁓ But yeah, although like community items like nose bands, ⁓ just things like that. I have to think to me like, I need this thing and this thing and this thing. ⁓ Also, I would love to buy a little two horse bumper pull trailer. So if anyone in the area has one.

Crysta Brown: You said garden, but it's okay. You've worked a lot. Yes. Mm-hmm. That's the dream.

Scott Cooper: Also, why are they so expensive? Why are they so expensive all of a sudden? Like these trailers that I grew up-

Crysta Brown: Dude, I bought one early COVID and it was one of the best decisions because it was like before people like got their stimulus checks and were like spendy spendy. So like it was a great, but I got like a two horse 1983 Miley dude. It was rocking.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. I mean, these trailers that are like the 1975 two horse straight load, like, you know, the little rickety ones like they're going, they're on sale for like, like four or $5,000. I'm like, that used to be a $400 trailer, like not that long ago. And like, anything that's just like, you know, a standard feather lighter maverick or whatever, two horse slant bumper pull is 10 grand. I'm like, what, what happened to this? So

Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. 10 grand. Yep. I know. I know it's crazy. Yeah. That's why I think when I bought my trailer, I want to say I paid 3000 and that was like a steal.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, I mean, I like looking for something like in the three to five range and it's like this junk and that's the other thing is like, I don't want a crappy trailer like he's still my precious baby. Right.

Crysta Brown: No, you need something that's like solid for sure. Like, but you can, you can sacrifice aesthetics if you're not doing long hauls. I think, you know, I think a slight load is great for a long haul, but like it can be ugly as long as she's safe. That's my thing.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, floors, tires. Well, and like, here's the thing, like, he's not gonna go anywhere far anyway, like we want to go to the beach. I also Ventura County Fair, like they have a ranch day. Yeah, y'all I want to return my roots, like go do the little local. I mean, that's, we're not home in the Pinto world, but maybe. Yeah, and a two horse in the Rivian. Well, that's the other thing is, yeah.

Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. ⁓ boy. Can we go to Penta World? In a two horse, in a two horse straight load, can we go into world? ⁓ In the Rivian, that makes it worse.

Scott Cooper: So here's the other thing y'all is like the truck that we have is a Rivian, which don't don't come from me. I don't want to hear your opinions. It's fine unless you have driven one and hauled with one then tell me your tales. But the plan is to the Rivian for ⁓ two horse and they according to many like online forums, whatever they haul great ⁓ like you barely notice the trailers there. ⁓

Crysta Brown: Okay.

Scott Cooper: The problem is like it sucks the battery more at the range. So like you're not gonna get as far as range. So that's like also, ⁓ but like there's not as many charging stations. So we'll have to figure out that. ⁓ But ideally it'll be like local small halls, which is fine. Like that's all I really wanna do. I know. Right, totally. ⁓ I would like to get that and move them up myself. If not, I'll have to find a hauler, but. ⁓

Crysta Brown: Yeah. I mean, just like, yes, yeah. fun. Yeah, but that gives you some freedom.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, I want the freedom to like take it to the beach or take it to a little like weekend fun shows or go trail riding somewhere else like around here. Like that's what I'm most excited about is just like to play again and like return to just like the fun of having a horse. Yeah, it'll be a good time.

Crysta Brown: Why not? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Can I just add, there's no bad blood with Karen. Like this is not, yeah, like I just want to put that out in the universe. Like nothing happened. There's no story. It was just time for you. If you haven't been a long time listener, this has been a debate since literally episode one. But, but yeah, this isn't about your training program.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, was... Yeah, I was gonna... You're right. Right. Yeah. I wanted to, yeah, I was going to like touch on that part. You know, obviously I was freaked out, you guys. I was calling Crysta like, oh my God, like I found the place. I have to have this conversation and I'm nervous about it. And there's no reason to be nervous about it. I'm not doing anything wrong. We have no bad blood. It's not that I don't like the program. It's just...

Crysta Brown: Yeah.

Scott Cooper: where we and him are at like, I'm not done showing at a high level chip is like we have done what we can do. ⁓ And he has been doing it just for me. And so I'm really excited and Karen knows that like Karen totally could see this coming. And when I told her she was like, ⁓ yeah, that makes sense. That sounds fun. Like, super, super supportive. So this is your plug to like, just be honest with your trainers and like

Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: if you have a good relationship with them, hopefully like they'll see that like this is a good thing. And also, like I am planning at some point soon to have a new one with Karen. So hoping by the end of 2026 will be horse shopping for my next fancy all rounder that can go live at Karen's and be in the program. can stay as a at home play around horse. So yeah, total pet just like spoiled baby. And maybe we'll

Crysta Brown: Yeah. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: We'll do a little jumping move. We'll pull up Madison and like do the hunter jumper.

Crysta Brown: Dude, do the Hunter hack. Why not? Nothing's stopping you. You would still be novice in Hunter hack. This is what we're going to do is we're just going to slowly eliminate everything that you're novice in. Goat tying? Why not? Yeah. No, I think it's great. I'm excited for this kind of next step of your journey. I just feel like you were caught on the fence for so long, but like for you to be like, nope, done the scary thing, had the like conversation and.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. I mean, there's jumps set up in the arena there. I was gonna say go tines next Mm-hmm.

Crysta Brown: now you can like take the next steps and like really see where you're showing can go. So like not that there's not going to be bumps along the way as there always are, but I'm excited for you to kind of be on a upward trajectory with a plan. So.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, it's nice to have a plan and I am really excited about having Chippany Brown. It's literally halfway between my house and work. Like it's on the way so like I could stop on the way home and.

Crysta Brown: That's perfect. Dude, that's good, because then you're never going to be able to justify to yourself, like, I just want to go home. You'll always be like, well, it's on the way.

Scott Cooper: Right. Right. Well, I was looking at places like out in Galita, which is like 20 minutes west, north, whatever the other way. And I was like, like, that will be a pain. So there's no excuse to like, I even like the my friend Rebecca that I carpool with often. I was like, do you care if we will like stop and feed chip carrots on the way home? She's like, oh, that'll be fun. So yeah, I'm really excited. And I'm glad, you know, I supported my barn. I told everyone like in the group chat, I just like

Crysta Brown: Aww.

Scott Cooper: Because y'all, the rumors in the horse world, like if something happens, you gotta get ahead of them. But in, and there's no tea. There's no tea. Like there's nothing disastrous that happened.

Crysta Brown: You have to get ahead of them. Yeah. No. Well, also, like not only have you communicated all of this with Karen, you've also communicated this with like the audience of our platform for like the past six months. So it's not really a secret.

Scott Cooper: Right, right. And like, it's not a secret. And like I texted the barn group chat with our all our amy group in our barn. And I was like, just so you guys know, Chip is going home. ⁓ And you know, told him the plan of shopping for another one soon. But just like, give give Chip your goodbye kisses in the next few weeks, because he won't be there anymore. yeah, it's just like, it's nice being transparent about it. And like just out in the open.

Crysta Brown: Yeah. Yeah. Did you listen to Brian in my episode? The horse trainer episode? Because I'm just like, cheers for honest communication. I really feel like nine times out of 10, like the conversation that somebody is like working themselves up to have with the trainer, it's like they have it. And the trainer's like, yeah, I figured that. Awesome. Super happy for you.

Scott Cooper: Yes, I did. Yes. Yes. That was me. I was so worked up because I just like I didn't want Karen to feel abandoned or like I was leaving her program chips leaving the program. But that's just because he's semi retiring. So I am guilty of that. And that's that's on me and my anxiety for sure too. But you know.

Crysta Brown: Yeah. But like, just think it's good to put out in the world. I'm like, you know, that thing that you're nervous about having, just start the convo and it doesn't have to be that serious. It's just, hey, I want to continue progressing as a horseman and I'm thinking this is the way to do it. Thoughts? You know?

Scott Cooper: Right. Yeah, yeah. I do get when it's a conversation about a program transition, ego feelings get involved that way. And it can be a little bit of a blow. Like it's, you know, it'd be like my boss taking a project away from me because they think I'm not doing a good job on it. Like it would be, yeah, it would be a total ego blow. And I think there's instances where like, it's not a good fit for either.

Crysta Brown: Yeah, that one's hard. Yeah, it sucks. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: like the trainer's not enjoying it, the client's not enjoying it, or something's got to change. And hopefully everyone can be grown up enough to have those conversations and get that honest feedback.

Crysta Brown: Yeah. I think, you know, we touched on it in that episode, but I really do think so much of it comes down to like, if you start with gratefulness, it disarms the trainer immediately because it does. feels like, well, mean, depending. Yeah. There are a lot of times where it's like, feels like it's time for both of us to move on. But like, like, I don't think I'm serving you. I don't think I'm your vibe. I'm actually shocked. still here. You know, like sometimes it's like that. And then there's other times where you're like,

Scott Cooper: All right. Right. Right.

Crysta Brown: ⁓ I get it kids going off to college, but like I did my job like I feel like I'm being punished and if somebody can come in at least going like Hey, you know some things have happened We're not super happy with the program as it is now But like we are so grateful for everything you've done like our horse has really transformed like we appreciate that from you ⁓ We think it's time a change ⁓ We are gonna move our horse on this date like it can be that simple ⁓ and

Scott Cooper: Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah.

Crysta Brown: Not every trainer is going to take it well. And you just have to accept that. But if you've done the right thing, your conscience is clear. And you've done your job, and that's up to them.

Scott Cooper: Exactly. Exactly. Yeah, I mean even with my conversation with Karen, not that I'm totally leaving the program, but I wanted to express my thankfulness for what she's done for Chip. I got a very average horse in 2020 and she made us both into something. So I was really grateful for that. And I'm really excited for the next step. when I told her we'll be shopping at end of the year, girl cannot wait.

Crysta Brown: Yeah.

Scott Cooper: ⁓ my God, she's like, tell me what, because I'm going to start looking right away. was like, I will give you the clue, but like not quite yet. Like I'll tell you when, but.

Crysta Brown: gonna be amazing. Yeah. Yeah. No, it's gonna be great. So no, I'm happy for you. I think that's gonna be like, you know, you're gonna have some like, ⁓ my gosh, now I'm in charge of this situation. But I think it just allows you to kind of step into the next phase. So it'll be good. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Yeah, it's I keep thinking about like how am I gonna ride him like there's part of me that part of why a horse show is so cool but like no bare back all the time we're doing bare back and just clip on reins like none of this PSA more.

Crysta Brown: with a saddle. Typically, I put the saddle on, I cinch it up, and then I put a bridle on and put my butt in the saddle. I don't know about you.

Scott Cooper: Right. Oh, Chris, but like Craig's excited to ride. He's never ridden Chip ever. And he's like, I don't know if it's all talk yet. We'll see. But he's like, he's like talking big game like chips can become his horse which I'm like, we'll see. But what else would be great? Yeah, also, that'd be fun to like actually ride together. But no, I was I meant like, when I show like you always have something to work toward. And

Crysta Brown: Stop. You're like, okay. Yeah. Oh, okay, I get what you're saying. You're like, I don't have a goal.

Scott Cooper: Like my game plan for practice and so now is like him not doing you know the big shows the majors whatever I I think I will still help take him to Small local maybe regional shows like it would be fun to go to Golden Grand honestly Yeah You know if there's a show in Burbank like I could see taking him there this Ventura County Fair like I like maybe just like setting the sights on

Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. play around. ⁓ my god, that's such a fun show, yeah. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: those small shows just so I can like have a goal in mind for when I'm riding practicing or else I'm just gonna just ride into the beach and drink Modelo's office back and that's about it which also will be fun maybe that's part of plan too. ⁓

Crysta Brown: That'll be great. That's bubble's life now, man. She's just a trail horse, I guess.

Scott Cooper: She was so cute playing in the water yesterday.

Crysta Brown: She loves the water the first time. like, it's, cause it's like a venting barn that we're at. And so like, you go down this one ramp and it takes you to like a water section that you walk through and then you like pop up the other side. So you can like go all the way through it continuously. The first time I offered for her to go in, we were following some way.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

Crysta Brown: God bless them, by the way. And she was like, no, no, no. It took some convincing, but she did go in. She's a pretty good trail horse, but we were in California. There was no water ever. So we didn't really have the opportunity to work on it. But she's tarped and all that stuff. So the groundwork was there in theory. So then she ripped her chest open. So she's been on hand walk for no reason.

Scott Cooper: Right. Right. attention

Crysta Brown: Yeah, exactly. Just like, why not? She was like, eh, shoved her chest onto God knows what. It was so ugly too. And of course, like where they had her stalled was like down by the lesson barn. So like two poor little working students found her and were like, huh, huh. I was like, it's fine. It's just, it's all meat It's just bloody. Like, um, no, it was, it was an ugly one. And then the vets come out. Vets are crazy. I have so much respect for her. She's like sticking her finger in it. I was like, huh.

Scott Cooper: you ⁓ Well.

Crysta Brown: Like she's, I think I could stitch something up if it was really like only me and I had to. Like there's, it's amazing what you can do when you're the only one, but like knowing that there's an option, I'm like, absolutely not. I don't even want to look at it. I'm gonna stand on the other side. And you know how embarrassing she is when they sedate her almost every single time she's like falling over. Like Chris.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. Yeah. Ugh, I know. Well, she's a lightweight, she's a little girl.

Crysta Brown: No, she is literally me. Like she is a wondering wonder. The moment like that sedation hit, she's like, ⁓ like leans into it and then stands like a dingus. She'll have like one foot out here, like her hips over here. I can't over exaggerate how stupid it looks. And Chris is literally like pushing her hip up because she almost fell over. It was bad, but that's bubbles anyway.

Scott Cooper: Good for her. ⁓ my god. ⁓ bubbles.

Crysta Brown: So then we're on like handwalk. So I was like, just trying to make it interesting. And actually it's a very nice place to be if you have to hand walk because we've got like all these groomed trails. can like cruise around, go look at stuff. She can like snort at the cows. ⁓ so yeah, I would like take her down to the water and just like practice sending her through it, like on the line. And, ⁓ then today, ⁓ like the chest looks better. And so was like, well, it's not going to hurt her if I just like sit on her. She seems to be walking well right now. So we want to like a little walk only trail ride.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, that sounds fun. That's so nice.

Crysta Brown: We went all the way through the water and she like jumped in. She was like, woohoo, like excited. I was like, yay. So that's Bubbles life now. She's just like an every now and then walk around horse.

Scott Cooper: Maybe you can pony her with Ricky Bobby.

Crysta Brown: For sure, she could definitely do that. She's pretty hardy for things like that. She surprisingly, if God put her feet on correctly, she honestly would be a pretty good little ranch pony as far as the effectiveness of getting things done because she's pretty fearless and she pretty much just does what I tell her, which is a shock, not with her head down moving pretty, but if you're like,

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm.

Crysta Brown: you know, run into this donkey, she's like, okay. She's very good that way. Yeah, like she can, if you need to get something to happen, she's like really solid. Like if you had to ride a horse into a tornado, like honestly, that one's a pretty safe bet. But like to do her job consistently for 45 minutes, hmm. Questionable. So yeah. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Okay.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, to get shit done, not to be showy. You know what? Same bubbles, same.

Crysta Brown: I am super happy for us as we transition in life. But with you coming back on, I just really wanted to do something fun. And one of my favorite podcasts we've done is when we did the, ⁓ like, We Design Our Dream horse show. I just, it was fun to like talk about ideas and like, I love that we have a lot of people that listen that volunteer in their clubs and I feel like they got some ideas and like, I heard that people kind of ran with it. So anyway, now.

Scott Cooper: Yes, yes, people seem to love that too. Mm-hmm.

Crysta Brown: There's something here that I am jealous of and I'm seeing pop up in the States every now and then, which is adult horse camp.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm.

Crysta Brown: And so I want us to design our dream adult horse camp.

Scott Cooper: I love this. Honestly, I treat the world show like my adult horse camp, but there's better things. But to be just hanging out with our horses around all our friends, I love horse shows for that, just for the social aspect. Even if I didn't go in the pen, I love being around it and screwing around and riding Graham and riding Bailey and switching horses up. It's just such a fun time. So I love this idea so much.

Crysta Brown: Yeah, no truly. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, no, I agree with you. think like 2025 World Show was Scott's adult horse camp, but I feel like it's fun. I feel like it's an underutilized opportunity, maybe. Like there are so many people that want to do more with their horse than just show. And I also think sometimes our clubs are underserving those folks that are like, well, maybe I don't have the budget to horse show or maybe I'm not quite ready to horse show.

Scott Cooper: Totally. I was feral. Mm-hmm.

Crysta Brown: But like, I want to participate and I love my horse and I like want to see this breed grow. So I like the idea of like, what are some other offerings that maybe we're not considering? So that's the idea today.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, clubs, could totally do this. You could steal this idea and instead of hosting one of your four shows for the year or in addition to one of your four shows for the year, put a horse camp on. You're going to draw a totally different crowd, maybe some of the same crowd, but like, yeah, you're right. I think there's a market for this and for people who aren't necessarily ready for the show ring and it can be super fun.

Crysta Brown: In addition, absolutely. Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah. But I think it could also be a strong community builder for us. ⁓ Yeah, when I was talking to Kirstie Marie, ⁓ we were talking about like the cow-horse community and like how friendly they all are with each other. And she was saying like, you know, that's the most welcomed. She's felt like walking into a ring, but she thinks it's because it's like the cow is the enemy. Like it's not us against each other. It's like us against the cow.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Right.

Crysta Brown: But I think about the camaraderie as well of when you're in the pen, there's usually a turn back. You have to have other people help you, and they're not even necessarily from your barn all the time. And I think that about the cow stuff, it's like, well, you need to learn to get along, because you're to have to ask some favors of each other. I think that's good. Yes. That was my experience around the cutting pen was like, I don't know. I just think it was a different environment. And I wonder.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Well, and everyone's gonna have to help each other at some point. It's not a one way street. Like everyone has a chip in.

Crysta Brown: If we had a social opportunity like this where we all come together, but it's not competitive, if it would have a positive impact on our atmosphere for maybe some of the clubs that are like struggling with, maybe their people are a little chatty in some negative ways.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, this isn't necessarily related to horse camp, so we'll come back, but go off as X ramp with me for a second to pee. I think it would be super fun to have like team oriented stuff like around shows. Like I think it would be super fun to build teams that way and compete in that way so that like individual stuff isn't as treacherous. anyway.

Crysta Brown: Okay. ⁓ yeah.

Scott Cooper: Back on ramp.

Crysta Brown: You know, they do that all, well, sorry, I'm gonna take us off the ramp again. ⁓ Okay, but yeah, there's youth programs, but also a lot of times at the European shows, they do team challenges where it's like, you would have to partner with a trainer and a youth kid. And then it's the combined score of like the three of you, but you get to like select the event or like whatever anyway. ⁓ And then that like combined score like reaches for whoever's the top team. So anyway, that's like a fun thing, but also.

Scott Cooper: I mean, Youth World Games. ⁓ cool.

Crysta Brown: Yeah, so thinking about like building camaraderie, developing a horseman and a new opportunity. So to begin.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. ⁓ and also not to mention NCEA, like there's collegiate teams, but anyway, yeah, right, exactly.

Crysta Brown: ⁓ yeah, no, but like there's a platform for this. Yeah, for sure. ⁓ So first question, what is the setting of your horse camp? Like are you holding it at a horse show venue and we're all staying in a hotel? Are you doing it like at, are we camping? What's the situation? What place in the world are we?

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I am, my horse camp is, I'm just gonna, I'm selfishly, I'm gonna put it in Santa Barbara because we have the mountains behind us, we have the ocean in front of us, multiple places play. I would like it at a facility, not necessarily a show facility. I want a few rings at it ⁓ and different pens, but I don't want it to feel stuffy in that way of like being at a show facility.

Crysta Brown: Mm.

Scott Cooper: I'm thinking like some ranch that can stall everyone and it's kind of like Maybe like a glamping situation not hotels, but like like a elevated camping. Let's say because it is camp. It's horse camp I remember going to forage camp as a kid and like sleeping the tent So mine is and I can think I mean, this is totally hypothetical but there is a barn eager that's like super nice and bougie that I looked at for chip and it was like 2500 bucks a month

Crysta Brown: Yes. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Scott Cooper: to board I was like that would be awesome and I'm not spending that but like a facility like that let's like pretty has space nearby things.

Crysta Brown: Hmm. Yeah, I get you. Because I like, selfishly, I love the thought of going back to a hotel room at night because like, I just don't suffer well. But I feel like if there is a hotel room, I'm not staying to hang out with people as long. So I need to be forced. Mm-hmm.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. Same, same. And that's kind of why I put that restrict on myself. Yeah, if there's a hotel room, I'm going to be in it and I'm going to be on DND and like, don't talk to me.

Crysta Brown: Yeah, yeah, no, I'm really bad, but like when forced to be social, I can be fun. So I think that's necessary. I imagine. OK, so this is like I'm so sorry. I cannot remember the name of the ranch, but I had a request to a clinic like as the clinician at this ranch in Texas. And unfortunately, like dates didn't quite work out. But what they proposed, I was like, please, please. Like it was so cool sounding. So.

Scott Cooper: Alright.

Crysta Brown: their facility is like a converted for the humans. Like it's like a normal like arena and there's some stalls, but then they converted the old barn into like a quote unquote hotel, but it's like one big kind of Airbnb situation. Yeah, so everybody has like, they knock down like two or three stalls per room and you have like your own door that can close, but food is communal and they get it catered.

Scott Cooper: Like a hostile.

Crysta Brown: And so you like go out into like the big area of the barn to like sit and hang out with everybody, but you have your own small space to yourself still. And I was like, you know what? Love. That's kind of perfect. Yeah. Like I still get to be in a real bed and people can like, you know, be in their ⁓ like trailer if they want to like stay in the trailer or living quarters if they want, but they can still like come in for the meals and like,

Scott Cooper: I like that. It's like a dorm kinda, yeah. Mm-hmm.

Crysta Brown: then you're not as weather dependent, which I like, because I love being outside and barbecuing, but the idea of we're still good and I can be warm if it's raining or something, that sounded amazing. So anyway, I loved that. So I'm going to say that's my dream scenario. Yeah. You want to be at this barn that I can't remember the name of,

Scott Cooper: ⁓ yeah. Yeah. that. I might change mine to that. Like that sounds awesome. Right, but that sounds super super fun.

Crysta Brown: No, it sounded, it was like so cute. I was looking at the pictures online.

Scott Cooper: Or what if it's at one of the universities that also has a horse facility?

Crysta Brown: I mean, there's that.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. I can't think of any like good ones off the top of my head. I haven't I didn't visit enough of the equine colleges, but

Crysta Brown: See, I want. But like, okay, I feel like some of the joy of camp, camping is like removal from normal world. So I, I don't know, personally, I want something like a little out in the middle of like the woodsies. Like I don't want it to be in a city, cause then people are gonna go off site. And it sounds like I'm trapping people, but I just want them to hang out together. Like I think that's the point. Okay.

Scott Cooper: This is true. Right. Right. Agreed. Okay. I'm done with

Crysta Brown: Yeah, but I mean, it's in Texas. I feel like that's okay. I feel like would probably avoid summer. would probably go for the... No, I know. Then you're more flexible. But then I feel like...

Scott Cooper: summer in Texas, no thank you. That's why mine's in Santa Barbara because it's kind of like really nice all the time, right? And one of the activities I want to do is take our horses to the beach and I'll ride on the beach.

Crysta Brown: Well, you have that option, so I like how you've set yours up. Yeah. I feel like it's got to be fall or spring. Those are really the only good choices.

Scott Cooper: Not spring in Midwest though. Y'all Midwest folks, I hear you. I feel you. Spring is awful there. But anyway, I don't think you're proposing Midwest anyway. Sorry. I was triggered by that word. No. Right. You're triggering me.

Crysta Brown: ⁓ okay. Yeah. No, Texas. No, we're good. No, I'm sorry. can't believe I said that to you out loud. You poor thing. ⁓ you okay? ⁓ supposed to be your safe space. ⁓ Okay. How long is your camp

Scott Cooper: I'm gonna go with like a four day weekend, like a Thursday to Sunday situation. Mm-hmm. Like come in Thursday, you're gonna have.

Crysta Brown: Mmm. Okay.

Scott Cooper: Thursday night, settle in, clinic stuff, Friday, Saturday, part of the day on Sunday, and then go home to your life.

Crysta Brown: Yeah, okay. No, I like that. In my head, I actually think I like your plan better than my plan. In my head, I was kind of thinking like traditional like week long camp, but I can't remember what horse show it was. My memory's really bad today, sorry everybody. like, there was a horse show where it ended on Saturday. So then you got to like go home and have Sunday off and it was one of the greatest delights of my life. dude, yeah.

Scott Cooper: Mm. actually sounds amazing.

Crysta Brown: So I was kind of picturing in my head, maybe like Monday is travel in day, but activities are like Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. That's too much. No, Tuesday is travel in day. Yeah. I want to do Wednesday to Saturday and then everybody leaves on Sunday. ⁓ so you can like, if you fly out, then you have the whole Sunday at home. Good for you. Enjoy. that is my imagining of the situation. ⁓ okay.

Scott Cooper: coming Tuesday. Yeah. Seriously.

Crysta Brown: Now getting into the fun stuff.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm.

Crysta Brown: Tell me about, somebody has to teach these people, somebody has to lead the activities. So who are your desired clinicians or activity leaders and what disciplines are you hosting?

Scott Cooper: Yeah. Okay, mine is. Since it's mine, it's gonna be trail, western riding, and ranch. I'm gonna skip the horsemanship this time. Yeah, I'm gonna skip the horsemanship this time, but ⁓ focus on the big stuff, the hard, tricky stuff. I want Charlie Cole to come in and help us with the western riding. Yeah, you know what, he owes me a favor. I don't know why, but he does. I'm sure he does. Charlie, if you're listening, you owe me for this.

Crysta Brown: ⁓ okay. ⁓ Just call them up.

Scott Cooper: ⁓ I just I think there is so much we could learn from him. So I want to do ⁓ that. For trail, I kind of I want this to be a little bit of an ⁓ back up a little bit. My schedule would be like each day you there's an option for each thing because I don't want to do like ⁓ just trail on Friday. riding Saturday because I think over if you did like chunks of the day So, you know and Friday morning with the trail Saturday morning with the trail Sunday morning trail I think by that third day you will see progression enough. So ⁓ then so for me, I think the ⁓ Mornings trail after lunch is riding and then after that is switch to the ranch stuff so and if people aren't doing ranch then they can

Crysta Brown: Yeah, yeah. Mm-hmm.

Scott Cooper: do some other activities. Yeah, it's a two-john adventure. But anyway, so Charlie's gonna come do the Western Riding for trail. I think I want Carly Parks and Karen. I want Karen to come in there. like, yeah, no, I do, because I love her perspective and the way she teaches because sometimes it's little scary. Yes. Yeah.

Crysta Brown: Watch. No. ⁓ okay. ⁓ You better have said that. She has a really unique way around trail that I think would be really interesting for people to hear.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. And can I bring in multiple or do I only have to choose some?

Crysta Brown: This is our own world and there's no budget, so...

Scott Cooper: That's right. Okay. That's true. Okay, so we're gonna bring in actually three for each. So for Western riding I'll do Charlie, you know, bring Jason, bring Jason Martin to might as well bring him. We have bring a giraffe and or kangaroo. ⁓ God, who else is really good?

Crysta Brown: Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. Might as well. What's stopping us? Bring a giraffe while you're at it.

Scott Cooper: feel like Blake Weiss is pretty good.

Crysta Brown: Isn't it crazy how your mind draws a blank when you're supposed to call a name? I mean, Sarah Simons. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, I think Blake Weiss would be good. We Sarah Simons for sure. I think I'm gonna save Sarah for the trail though. You know what? Okay, here it is. Shannon, Charlie, Jason for Western Riding.

Crysta Brown: Shannon's pretty amazing. Dude, could you imagine? Tickets are gonna be $5 million.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. And then exactly. And then we have Karen Carly and Blake Weiss for the trail. And then for the ranch, want Beth Clements, Justin Semper.

Crysta Brown: Okay. Trill. Stop stealing mine.

Scott Cooper: We can share, it'll be different weeks. Justin Semper and Steve Meadows.

Crysta Brown: Ooh, okay, this is a strong lineup. I like, I like. Okay, very good. So I think for mine, I definitely want a ranch pen that like, it's gonna exist pretty separate from my all around pen just because like they're working on separate things. think that gives everybody a chance to focus on themselves. So, and I'm gonna have like an all around, but I think. we need to focus on classes. Like I very much agree with your idea of like, we're gonna have to pick some because you're gonna see so much more progress if we niche down versus if we try to do it all. So.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Right. ⁓ my god, if we're trying to do eight events in one day, like we're trying to do the full all around like no. Right.

Crysta Brown: We need to pick. So I almost think, I don't know if I want to include English because then you kind of have people in different saddles because some people are going to do it, some people aren't. I think I'm just going to do Western, but I love English riding Okay. Don't get me wrong guys. I think we're going to do horsemanship, Western versatility and showmanship.

Scott Cooper: No... I know. I knew you were say that. Ooh, okay.

Crysta Brown: I think that'll be my all around side. ⁓ But imagine the all around's gonna exist in its bubble and the clinicians over there get to kind of decide and then ranch is gonna kind of exist in its bubble. But we may have a fun day on Thursday where we go, okay, everybody switch disciplines and then go swap horses. For sure, I want intermixing and I want everybody to be friends, but for skills developing, I'm gonna have them kind of exist on their own.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Yeah, for sure. Yes. Mm-hmm.

Crysta Brown: So I think for my clinicians, I'm also gonna do three. And I was imagining in my head, I want like all around, like strong all around person who's also a strong coach. And then I want strong ranch person. And then I kind of want someone who can do both and kind of support both pens. Like they're gonna be my like go between, okay. Okay. I mean, everybody loves Dawn, but I'm also imagining I can have seminars because in between riding, we're going to need some breaks. We need some workshops where people aren't on horses. So I'm, I'm keeping in the back of my head, like those are my riding coaches. And then I'm going to have some seminars where we're to talk about like classroom things that like not. Yes. Okay. Yes. So I think I'm imagining.

Scott Cooper: Everyone loves Yes. Yes. Yes. Mm-hmm. also wanted, yeah, yes, we're on the same page. I'm gonna do this too.

Crysta Brown: See the all-around person is really hard for me because like there's too many people that I love and I know well and I'm like they would do really good for this reason and they would do really good for this reason. My in-between person who I think can handle both pens I was gonna say Beth Clemens as that was like she can be strong in my all-around pen and my ranch pen which I think would be super helpful. I think for a ranch I actually would use Marty Semper because I've seen him clinic and he did such like he's such a strong communicator like

Scott Cooper: There's so many, you know. Mm-hmm.

Crysta Brown: It's one thing to have the skills, but like not every trainer is a good coach. He's such a strong communicator of the things he's trying to bring across. So I think that would be my pick for my ranch pen.

Scott Cooper: Wait, did I say the wrong name? I think I meant Marty. Did I say Justin?

Crysta Brown: You did say Justin.

Scott Cooper: ⁓ I meant Marty, sorry. Cut, sorry.

Crysta Brown: Cut, cut, cut, cut. Should we just leave it? Do you want to like, okay.

Scott Cooper: It was a bit anyway, you know, if you keep listening, you'll find out that I fucked up some

Crysta Brown: ⁓ Okay, yeah, Marty would be my pick and then my all around pen, I think it's gonna be Shannon. I just think Shannon can excel in all of those classes and communicate kindly. I think Shannon would be my pick, yeah. I'm gonna stick with it, I'm gonna lock in my answer. I think it's gonna be Shannon.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Okay, great.

Crysta Brown: But that doesn't mean that there's not a million other people I love. It's just that's the one that's coming to my mind right now where I'm like, nope, I think she could rock all of those things. So it's going to be Shannon. ⁓ But yeah, and so I'm imagining I'm going have some seminars, right? And you guys are going to have classroom humans, OK? Don Beard is going to be one of them. Wait, I just remembered who my other person was. I was thinking of.

Scott Cooper: Yes, same. Yes, same.

Crysta Brown: Nancy Wright as well. Okay, maybe she's gonna be my classroom person because Nancy again is so good at like making things feel alive. So maybe I'm gonna have Nancy in the classroom and then like we have the option if Shannon needs a break, right? Like I've got choices now. Okay. Anyway, Nancy Wright is another strong pick. What?

Scott Cooper: Whoo. OK. I have a suggestion for classroom, Sandy. Gotta have Sandy in there.

Crysta Brown: you're so, that is a problem is there's too many good people. How do you pick? I know. ⁓ well, I definitely think my Don beard just brings me joy. And I think you need to have a judge and you need to have a judge. Well, yeah, cause he's gonna be fun to hang out with after too. And that's part of who I'm picking. ⁓ And I think, I ⁓ you need somebody who's gonna understand all of the classes.

Scott Cooper: I know. I know. You see, have to have... Don's there for vibes.

Crysta Brown: and can keep it entertaining. So anyway, I think he's gonna hold classroom sessions on scorecard, understand it, watch this video, learn how to score it yourself. That's gonna be his session. Then my other classroom session that you're gonna rotate in and out of is nutrition, learn and clean your saddle properly, putting your tail in. It is practical, practical, practical skills.

Scott Cooper: Yes.

Crysta Brown: We're going to bring the vet out and the vet's going to answer every question you've ever had. You're going to give an IM shot, do all of the things.

Scott Cooper: We are so on the same page because I was thinking like we need the riding clinics but like I want like a horsemanship life skills like teach me how to build an emergency kit like what do I need in my emergency kit? Let's talk about hauling safety backing up a trailer like let's talk about like you know this kind of goes in first aid but like wound care and all that I want to I want to talk about nutrition I want to talk about tack like

Crysta Brown: Yes. Yes! backing up a trailer. Yeah. Yes.

Scott Cooper: All the things, and this is selfish, because right now I'm like nervous about these things as I switched to a horse, kind of in my care, but like, yeah, right. Or like, ⁓ or some other things I thought, like I want those like, here's how to survive life with owning a horse, whether you are in a show pen or not. Like teach me about alfalfa, teach me about forage, like I want all these things.

Crysta Brown: No, but a lot of people would like to know that. Yeah. Yeah. But also, I think it would be so fun to have an independent nutritionist. We are not bringing a brand rep in, sorry, sharing one of my pet peeves. But bring an independent nutritionist in and have them, maybe they've pre-tested the pasture grass and the hay so they can come in and explain to you why it's important to test it and then how to figure out your supplementation afterward. They're so, like,

Scott Cooper: No. Mm-hmm.

Crysta Brown: The coolest thing about horses in my opinion is the fact that there is like so much to know. I am like constantly learning and I think it would be really cool. I think that side would be really cool. But also I talked to so many people that like don't really understand vet work and that's not like ignorance and this is not like a knock, but like they don't understand what we're doing in like a lameness exam of like blocking out the leg. Like first we kind of identify which leg and then we block it out. And I think having a vet come and have those types of conversations to really help you understand the diagnostic process, I think would open people's eyes and really help them understand what their money is going towards. Because so many of us just have to learn that the hard way. The first time you have a lameness issue and then you start going down the road with it and it's like, So yeah.

Scott Cooper: I think like someone coming in and talking about breeding too, I think it would be super interesting. Like not that I don't think I'm ever gonna breed, but like it's fascinating to me the whole process and like all you mare owners like watching when your mares are ovulating and like what does that entail and you know, getting the ship seam in all that stuff. Like I'm never gonna do it, honestly, never, but it is fascinating to me.

Crysta Brown: Yeah. Yeah. But I think it would just be cool to, I think a horse camp creates a really interesting situation where you have people's time and you can educate people about the things that aren't just on the horse. And so I definitely want to utilize that. I mean, you could even bring in like Sterling and have them like come and walk through tack and like purposes of different tack or have Chuck come in and do like a bit. demo, like, I don't know, like, I'm just imagining like all the different sessions you could do and how valuable that education would be to people.

Scott Cooper: I'm also bringing back Dr. J and Dr. Carrie because we need like human stuff to like let's talk psychological stuff. Let's talk physiological stuff like let's let's get that pinned down too. So I would love to have them as part of that.

Crysta Brown: you Yeah. Wait, how cool would it be if like Dr. J is there, but like everybody has like two or three session blocks with her? And it's just automatic and like you get to go in and it can be about whatever you need. If you're trying to like maximize and you're like, you know, I just want to talk about like how I can be the most mentally fit for my show game.

Scott Cooper: Ooh. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yes.

Crysta Brown: That's going to be some people and there's other people that are going to get in there and they're like, I have trauma from like my last horse trainer or my last horse or whatever it is. But like, whatever you need that session to be, it can go there. But like, we're just going to schedule it automatically for you. You can opt out. You don't have to go, but like, it's just blocked in.

Scott Cooper: Right. Yeah. Yeah. Some of you people I'm forcing you to go. Just FYI. You're right. You're right. Love you. Yeah.

Crysta Brown: There's a few where it's actually not optional and we've planned ahead of time. But yeah, and like have Dr. Carrie like available for sessions too, I think would be, but I would love to have like a Dr. Carrie. ⁓ see now it's just getting more more expensive and it doesn't matter because money's not real in this imaginary world. But Dr. Carrie is going to lead warmups in the morning and like, yeah, and like get people in the habit of like prep your body to be the most fit.

Scott Cooper: It's not real. That's fine. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Mm-hmm.

Crysta Brown: And like, ⁓ my God, Scott, maybe we even like give people healthy meals. I mean.

Scott Cooper: That's I was gonna say I was gonna say let's talk food next and I want to talk about meals because in my head it's not a gluttonous weekend. It's it's like a retreat almost and that like you should leave feeling better than you came. Not like we ate fried chicken the whole time.

Crysta Brown: It is going that direction. I want people to leave. I want people to leave feeling like they are prepared to be the horseman they want to be. That's what I want the vibe to be.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. Well, and like if we're talking about food, I think I say I say this all the time about like people going to horse shows and being at World Show for 10 days, like stop filling. Like we're already tired. We're already pushing our bodies to the max. And then you're just going to fill it with like donuts and fried foods like y'all eat a vegetable. So like I, I want people to leave better. ⁓ I think nutrition is part of that and maybe I'm crazy that way because I'm an athlete but like I do think that affects how you exist in your day-to-day life. Y'all I eat so much junk food anyway like don't don't think I'm holier than now because your boy can like pound some Trader Joe's snacks in a second but overall like I try to pretty well.

Crysta Brown: But I think if we're saying the intent of this is to like leave as a better horseman, like certainly I think it would be even interesting. Like have your chef or I'm assuming this is catered. Like I'm catering mine. I don't care. Like absolutely. You are not cooking over a campfire on my watch. No. ⁓ I imagine. Yeah. Like this is just not gonna be even a conversation.

Scott Cooper: for sure. Yeah, I'm not doing that. No. Dinner's ready by the we get off the horses. Right. This is catered.

Crysta Brown: But like, what if our chef did a session to like talk about like meals for on the go and like even like you like go in and like prep a meal together. Yeah, like I think that could be a really interesting thing to think of ourselves as athletes and like have that combo.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. Crackpot meals. Yeah. We should, I will die on that hill, y'all. We are athletes and you guys are acting like one. And I promise you, your body and your horse will appreciate you.

Crysta Brown: I mean, I say that. I agree with the idea of this conceptually. It will not change my behavior at horse shows. like, look, I eat, okay. I was like literally mentally planning my next, what I eat in a day video at the World Show. I'm like, oh, it's gonna be so good. I'm gonna go so ham.

Scott Cooper: Well at least you eat. I live on those like premixed bags of salads on my horse shows. I think I posted a TikTok about that once.

Crysta Brown: Yeah. But I need, I'm, I can't live off a salad. I can do that for lunch if I know I'm gonna have a good dinner. But like, I need carbs and protein or I don't feel full.

Scott Cooper: You do, but yes, and you need a vegetable. You need those nutrients that are in the vegetables or else you're never gonna poop.

Crysta Brown: No, I don't disagree. Hey, look, look, if you saw my one date video, I had like four carrots, so it was fine. Yeah. Yeah, it's about balance. OK, so we've kind of gone.

Scott Cooper: Wow, very, very happy for you. Anyway, I think like, ⁓ go ahead. Do you want to go more about food? Because I have more to say about food.

Crysta Brown: Okay, say what you're gonna say.

Scott Cooper: Breakfast, we're doing smoothies, whole wheat pancakes, good stuff. Lunches is a buildable situation with lots of veggies, quinoa, rice. I know, some people are like, shut the hell up, Scott. ⁓ Okay, but we gotta put some lettuce in it, we gotta put some veggies in it. Right.

Crysta Brown: Give me a wrap option. Just give me a tortilla and then I'm cool with it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, it's gonna be like essentially a salad, but there's like chicken and I can wrap it and then I'm good. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: Right. I do love like a chicken Caesar wrap. So good.

Crysta Brown: God forbid when it's so fresh.

Scott Cooper: Anyway, I am getting hungry. And then dinner. That's where we get to have a little bit more fun. Because y'all I do I eat fun stuff too. But like I want to do barbecue like I want to do ribs. But like good stuff too. I don't know. But like the point is we're not going to eat like garbage. We're going to eat well and it's going to be delicious. And it's also not going to be gross. Yeah. Balance.

Crysta Brown: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. But with balance, as it should be. Mm-hmm. Yeah, no. I love it. OK. So.

Scott Cooper: Do you have any non-horsey activities?

Crysta Brown: Okay, so this is what I was gonna ask about is like, what are our activities, which we've kind of already touched on, but.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, I mean, a big part of it is the like the actual writing in the seminars. I love this seminar thing. Like that's 100 % got to be part of it.

Crysta Brown: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think there should be fun though. Like I think we, like a big part of it for me is gonna be camaraderie. And so I want some silly, like I want us all to like take our cool jacket off and just like have fun together. So I definitely think because it's adult horse camp, I would like a wine tasting.

Scott Cooper: Yes.

Crysta Brown: But also like, is that too obvious? So I almost think it's gonna be a margarita flight. Right, like something a little different where it's like, but like we'll bring in like a real like cocktail, like bartender guy, like mixologist, that's the word, who's gonna like really, you know, do it right. But I think it needs to be a little unique. So I think that's gonna be one of my activities. And then I think I want some like classic like,

Scott Cooper: Google. of you. Yeah.

Crysta Brown: Like I want talent show night where every group, you're assigned your little travel group of buddies, everybody has to come up with something for the talent show. I don't care what it is, but you have to come up with something. And I think there's gonna be like our last day, it's gonna be a watermelon relay. This is something that we did at horse camp when I was a kid and it is like.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. ⁓ okay.

Crysta Brown: It is so like ingrained in the memories of my childhood, because it was just like, it was so good. So like basically your group is given a like greased up watermelon. And then we had to travel like all the way from our cabin, like down to the finish line, which was like way the heck in the middle of the nowhere. But there would be like stations set up where like the different counselors would like, okay, now you have to use your beach towels.

Scott Cooper: ⁓ I think I've seen...

Crysta Brown: and like you can only transfer the watermelon by beach towel. Like, and you can't move once the watermelon is in your beach towel. like, anyway, so then you're like racing with beach towel and then whatever. So there was all these different activities. At one point you're rolling it. At one point you're doing the beach towels, all these things. Then somebody had to like hold it, but they could only use their like left arm. It would stuff like that, right? Then it gets the end and you had to crack it with no tools.

Scott Cooper: ⁓ my god. Hmm.

Crysta Brown: And then it had to be completely gone, no pink within the people in your group. Eat all of it.

Scott Cooper: Like, eat it?

Crysta Brown: No, that's the fun part. But only the outside.

Scott Cooper: It just sounds dirty at that point. Yes, I'm just imagining bashing it on a rock to open up and then like all this dirt flies into it and.

Crysta Brown: The outside is dirty. Well, that might have been slightly part of it, but I think there may have been water that we could pour on it. Probably. But yeah, that's it. Hey, look, that's on you guys as a strategy. What are you gonna do to make sure it's not disgusting when it cracks open? But anyway, I definitely, I want a watermelon relay. just, like, I want that type of, like, cheap, good old-fashioned fun, you know? Yeah.

Scott Cooper: I guess, I personally hate like force games. Like if once I get into it, I'm into it. But like, yeah, it's pretty hard for me to like be like, ⁓ yeah, let's do something silly. ⁓ But that's just me. You can have your fun. I will. I'll make the rules for it or something. ⁓ For my participants, I'm sure they would like it. One of the things that I want to do and it's like, I guess, semi horse related, but not on your horse. I want

Crysta Brown: Hmm, interesting. Okay.

Scott Cooper: every night there to be one of the like classic horse movies from like the 90s or 2000s. It had I like I would love to watch it again like Casey's shadow. Yes, like we'll do like, you know, we'll do s'mores over the campfire or whatever and then we'll watch Casey shadow blacks down 100 % Yeah, this is outside this is like on that one of those blow up screens outside. Black stallion. My friend Flicka

Crysta Brown: Love it. So cute. with beanbags out, yeah. Yeah. ⁓ and there's gotta be a campfire crackling while we're watching it. And like, you can hear the little fireflies. ⁓ yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. On the barn. Mm-hmm. Black beauty from the nineties. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: Black Beauty. Did you ever watch? I know I've said this three times now, but Casey's Shadow. Did you ever see that? About the horse ring? ⁓ It's so good. It was like about this. I think it might have been actually a quarter horse. But anyway, this like racing horse and I think it was based in like Louisiana or something, but he got born with four white socks and so they're all worried about his feet not being hard enough to be a racer and he's going to go lame and blah, Yeah, totally. But anyway, I that when I was a kid.

Crysta Brown: No, that's a new one for me. Hmm. Ugh, old wives tales. Yeah, yeah, But that's cute.

Scott Cooper: ⁓ Gosh, I'm trying to think of like other ones that I watch religiously.

Crysta Brown: I think also Dream War, that was, I mean, that was definitely of my childhood. ⁓ wow. You got a much spirit. You would love it. It's kind of a really special allegory for other things. I won't ruin it for you, but it's a good one.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. Do you know I've never seen spirit? Yeah, I know I should be able to that later. Yeah. So anyway, yeah, so we're gonna like bring some 90s nostalgia back and we're gonna watch all our favorite horse movies from when we were kids. Assuming everyone here is like the same age as me, so.

Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, that's on them if they aren't.

Scott Cooper: ⁓ Yeah, that's on them. But also like whatever facility we're at, there's a pool and hot tub too, so everyone can just like chill out and sit by the pool for a little bit if they want. I like this margarita flight idea. ⁓

Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. I just think something like that, you know? Like, yeah, maybe not every night, but it's definitely a part of it. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, there's got to be a little drinky-dorky. Like, if it's an adult camp, we gotta have a little bit of fun. Right. Agreed. ⁓ I think there has to be like matching shirts. Like the best part about going to camps for like the swag you came home with. Like you gotta, you gotta.

Crysta Brown: You're making me think I'm getting ideas. I'm not not listening to you. Go on.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. No, I just like I even think about like family reunions. Remember like I don't know maybe people still do this but I feel like in the 90s whenever we went to family reunions you came home with like a new family reunion shirt so I think there needs to be great merch for this.

Crysta Brown: Mm. was a thing. But I also think, speaking to the t-shirts, now I'm thinking, now that we're talking all these team things, all these fun activities, I'm like, really what should happen is it's like you guys are team red, team yellow, I don't know, whatever, right? And that's your t-shirt color and you will be given two or three options and you have to wear your color with pride. I'll tell you ahead of time so you can bring your dress up nonsense, right? But they are collecting points for their team in every activity that they do.

Scott Cooper: Anymore. Yeah.

Crysta Brown: So actually my clinicians get to give each team a score. And it's gonna be a mix of my ranch and all around people each day on like how successful they were. My seminar, you leave with a score and that gets sent into the team calculation. And at the end, one team is the winner. But when I tell you the trophy is gonna be so special, it's gonna be so special. I'm talking mom and pop hot glued together beer can trophy, but it's gonna be mega.

Scott Cooper: Thank Mmm. ⁓ Okay.

Crysta Brown: and your name will be emblazoned upon it.

Scott Cooper: I was thinking buckles, but okay, nevermind.

Crysta Brown: Why would I give them a buckle? We don't need a buckle for everything. Okay? This is camp, Scott. You're not in the right energy. This is camp, okay? The joy is the kitsch.

Scott Cooper: I love a trinket. Okay. What if, but what about a sweatshirt or like a vest? Okay, okay.

Crysta Brown: That's fine, they can have a thing, but like my point is like the celebration is gonna be like, there's a slight irony, there's a slight kitsch to it. And I think that's a part of the joy. You don't have to agree, you're a little bit, yeah, no, I want the kitsch.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, that's true. We do have Kishi. We love Kishi. I like her. No, I get it. I see what you're... The other thing is like, you're giving away buckles, it's going to get too serious.

Crysta Brown: That's what I mean. Like it's, for fun. Like I want it to be in the spirit of like, nobody wants this construction paper horse shit that Crysta made on a Tuesday, but like, you won and you're going to take the picture with this like giant spray painted crap that I made. It's like a pasta necklace with a metal on it. ⁓

Scott Cooper: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. You're going to get it. Right. Yes. Yes, agreed. Yeah. I just thought of something. I want to hire equine chiropractors and massage therapists for our ponies so that they also feel like they're getting like spa treatment too. And maybe like bring in like the cryo cryo or like the salt water machines. Yeah, like the. Yeah, I, I, it shouldn't just be, you know, it shouldn't be the horses at work.

Crysta Brown: Okay. little pimp machine. You're just gonna have a physio for the horses there is what you're saying. Someone who can do it all. about us.

Scott Cooper: all the time and the dogs have fun like the babies you get spoiled too what's that

Crysta Brown: Maybe our vets there on site so they can do lameness. Like maybe we have a specialty lameness vet there on site so that like people can, you know, utilize that service if they need. I mean, we could go crazy. There's no budget.

Scott Cooper: Yeah. I just I want the ponies to feel like they got a little bit of a some love and spa time too. Yeah exactly.

Crysta Brown: Good experience. Yeah, positive experience. Yeah, I like that. I like the idea of not burning our ponies out, but I think that's part of what like some of our things will help us do is like break up the day, you know, a little bit. I definitely think there's got to be like some nap time though. Like I don't want these days too full. You know what I mean? Yeah.

Scott Cooper: No, no, Yeah, that's like, you got to have some like, lay down and scroll time. Yeah. Or else I won't survive for five days without.

Crysta Brown: Scheduled downtime. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. There's Are you allowing people to have their phones?

Scott Cooper: That's a great question I had considered.

Crysta Brown: I think I'm going elementary school and they have to put it in the stupid bag thing and they'll have designated hours that I'm gonna let them take it out.

Scott Cooper: I could go behind that. I could get that.

Crysta Brown: Cause I think, don't like, we're adults. Like you, you can have your phone. need to check in and call your husband and see if your kids are okay. And like, obviously if you need it, you can go use it. But like, I just think there's something about like, if this is a retreat and a break, like please take my phone was how I would feel. Please force me to not have this. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. No, I think I'm on board with that. ⁓ My only caveat is like, how are we making the TikToks?

Crysta Brown: You're so right. You're so right. They get iPod touches that they can take video on and edit later. Well, you can have designated time, but I think I like the pouch idea, because then I can lock and unlock it. know? That's what I think. Or maybe during certain activity hours, you know how it's like, I don't know how many like teacher TikToks you get, but like whatever. ⁓

Scott Cooper: Totally. Yeah.

Crysta Brown: I want like the, yeah, okay, yeah. I want the, like the over the door shoe hanger thing, but they're each gonna put their phone in that, right? So they can still come and use it. If like, if you're having emergency at home, like I'm not gonna take it away from you, but like, I just think it gives everybody a break to go focus on their sessions, be present. Nothing's buzzing in your pocket. And then you come back to it after. That's, that's, I think how I'm running it.

Scott Cooper: the end. Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah, I think if you're in the saddle, phones are not like they're on the side of the arena.

Crysta Brown: Yeah, but I'm imagining it like, OK, you wake up, you have breakfast, and then we start with like ride session one. And maybe one group is in that, like in their ride sessions while another group is in like a seminar, right? And then switch kind of a thing. ⁓ And then maybe it's like a whole group game, and then another ride session, and then lunch, right? But I'm imagining that whole chunk of time between meals. No phone. No phone.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, I'm down with that. I think that's great.

Crysta Brown: And then after lunch, there's like quiet hour. And then after that, you return your phone back to me.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. I want like a 4 p.m. Like you go take a shower, nap and like siesta 100%. And that's when we'll feed the ponies and yeah, just like have a.

Crysta Brown: siesta. Okay. Have a little moment. but I'm gonna have everybody gets a journal and like, you're not required to, but it's just so you have this option of like, do you wanna use your quiet time for some reflection? For some like processing some of the things you learned today and like writing it down, yeah.

Scott Cooper: Okay. In addition to that, instead of going on your phone, I'm gonna I to have like a small library again of all the like old horse books that we love like all the Misty of Chincoteague books, the Black Stallions, all those like if you want to take some downtime and just read those books, I actually recently read Stormy of Chincoteague ⁓ Missy baby like last year, like I it took me three hours to read it because it's a kid's book but like I loved it. my god, I loved it. So want to have all those.

Crysta Brown: Yes! Yes. Aww. Yeah. Right. But it's fun to go back through. But I think too, like put some like of the good horse encyclopedias and stuff in there. So somebody's like, you know what? I was inspired in my session and I want to learn more about horse feet. Like, ⁓ look, like here's a, like you can check it out, but we're definitely going to have some like downtime designated hours that are yours. And like, this is your break. Like I want it to feel inspirational, but I don't want people to leave like feeling like they, yeah.

Scott Cooper: ⁓ my god, I love those. Yeah. Right. Mm hmm. Agreed. Burnout. Yeah. Agreed.

Crysta Brown: Yeah, exactly. We're going to take our sessions seriously. But then other than that, relax.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, and I'm going to hire someone to come in and like clean stalls and feed and stuff. like cameras don't worry about. Right? ⁓

Crysta Brown: ⁓ we're not doing any of that. Absolutely not. Yeah. I love that. Anything else that's happening at your world that I need to know about? Are we doing crafts? You're not crafty.

Scott Cooper: Well, I'd like crafty... I don't know. I don't know if I'll have time. Maybe friendship bracelets. That'd be cute. But, I mean, we're packing in a lot in the other day. I know.

Crysta Brown: ⁓ mean, yeah, but you have to have some things that are off horse so the horses aren't just getting burnt out all day, I do think. A leather maker comes, we practice leather making. Yes.

Scott Cooper: Wait. Agreed. That's I was just gonna say that was gonna say I want to do like leather leather make or like stamping or carving or like whatever it is like. Let's make let's make a pair of chaps like let's make a something. Let's make a belt. OK, that's excessive, but like let's make a belt. Yeah, I would. Yeah, I would love to play with like leather making. Yeah.

Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. A pair of shops seems ambitious. Sure, yeah. Like just like 101 leather craft, like would be a cool like afternoon session to have, but like something different, a little creative.

Scott Cooper: Or let's, yeah, let's make ⁓ spur straps and belts.

Crysta Brown: Okay, I love it. I think that would be really cool. And also I feel like that's one of those things in the industry that like needs to be continued. I've had the thought before, like I think there's so many Western arts that are not celebrated maybe the way they should. And I was like, I wonder if a club could like partner with a leather maker or leather craftsman. I don't really know what the, or like somebody who can make like mohair cinches and like do all that stuff.

Scott Cooper: Yes. That's my craft. Mm-hmm. what to call it either, I'm sorry. Yeah.

Crysta Brown: Like if you could have like a Western craftsman like volunteer to go to elementary schools and like educate their art teachers even. Like maybe you do one thing for all the art teachers or maybe you go in and do sessions like for a day. Like the kids play with leather work, just inspire some kids and see what comes out of it. I think that could be really cool. Like again, I'm very anti gatekeep and I think that would be a cool way to be like, come in, we want you.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm. ⁓ I want someone to come in and teach us how to shape hats.

Crysta Brown: ⁓ yeah, ⁓ yeah. That would be cool. I think my...

Scott Cooper: Yeah. Like even my new Brinks hat is wonky right now and I can't find a place to fix it. I'm like, I wish I could just do this myself, but I

Crysta Brown: Well, I feel like my camp being five days makes a lot of sense now as we come up with all of these activities. But in reality, this could be year after year. So not all these ideas have to be spent this one year. But I love.

Scott Cooper: I know, maybe I need to add a date. I know, I have so much. Alright, agreed. Or what if it's a full summer camp? Adults never have that much time off. My God, I wish. I wish.

Crysta Brown: All summer? No way. Dude, when all of us have sugar daddies and can do what we want, then yes, but until then. And this is the problem is like, I love the idea of this because I think it gives you a date to like, set your responsibilities aside and go focus on developing as a horseman, building relationships and just like.

Scott Cooper: I Mm-hmm.

Crysta Brown: decompressing and like that sounds really good to me. I'm building the camp that I want to be at, which I do think is funny. Like the ways that you and I are a little different. Like I'm, definitely like my camp counselor years were formative and strong and like I thrived in that environment. like, I definitely want some of that. And I do want, like I loved, I mean, my entire time, like working as camp counselor, like I really deeply enjoyed the campfires at the end of the night and like hanging out with each other. And then you go back and like everybody's a little sleepy and you like have some like good little talks and you like fall asleep in your bunk. So like, you know, I think the adult version, I don't need you in my bunk, but I still love the idea of like, you know, having a long day where you're like sweaty and you've got like a bandana from your colors on, you know, like I think that's fun.

Scott Cooper: ⁓ yeah, no. Yeah. Yeah, I agree. And like, I don't want anyone to take it like too seriously. Like you said, like I want people to leave like feeling better, not like, ⁓ my God, we just went through a four day circuit and right. Exactly. ⁓

Crysta Brown: Mm-hmm. And like inspired. Yeah. I want them to leave feeling like I can do this.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, yeah, and like feeling like they're leaving with more tools than they came with.

Crysta Brown: Like I think I certainly think we can kind of have, I would divide my rider sessions, I think by skill level and like allow that way my beginners have an opportunity to really be focused in on and like cared for and encouraged. Like if you are the person who's not ready to show yet, I want you to feel comfy and like there's space for you. But then I want my diehards to like get their zero in time where somebody's like, let's go, you're going to do this, you know?

Scott Cooper: Mm, smart. What's the ideal size? How many people?

Crysta Brown: Ooh. Okay. From personal experience, no more than eight in an arena at a time is my opinion. I think I'm limiting it to six riders per coach at a time, but I've got two arenas running and I'm running sessions where they're like, I'm interchanging people. So my arena is going to be full all day, but I'm switching out my sessions. I.

Scott Cooper: Mm-hmm.

Crysta Brown: think I could maybe have 25 people. No, a little more than that, maybe.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, I'm thinking somewhere between like 25 and 40 is kind of the sweet spot. Same thing where like

Crysta Brown: Yeah, we may be hiring extra judges. It'll be like, but here's the thing. Some of my seminar people could jump in. Yeah. Cause if you're rotating, you can get through a lot more people. Maybe people have one morning ride, one afternoon ride. And then that gives you, you could have four sessions go in the morning and four sessions go in the evening. As long as you have other activities that you're slotting people into or three, maybe three and three.

Scott Cooper: No, but I like this whole rotation thing. Yeah. Yeah, I do think like lunchtime could be like lunch and seminar. Like we're gonna sit in the classroom and learn.

Crysta Brown: But if there's, if there's three and I have between five and six, that's like. 15 so I could have 40 people ish. Yeah. Yeah, I think that could work But no, yeah

Scott Cooper: Yeah, this is hypothetical anyway. But yeah, that's kind of what I'm I don't want 10. I don't want 70. I want kind of like enough that it's fun and everyone can get to know each other too. Like, yeah, there's a sweet spot in there.

Crysta Brown: Thank you. Yeah. Well, then I think I could have like, yeah, I like the, I dunno, I want my teams and I want everybody competing throughout, but I think it's like fun. Are you doing any particular horse activities like on horse activities or is yours like about education with you and your horse? Like we're not doing a lot of like monkey around business.

Scott Cooper: I some ideas about monkeying around but I don't know. I do want there to be.

Crysta Brown: I think I'm not into the monkeying around, which is crazy for me, but like, I don't know if that's the goal of this.

Scott Cooper: I Yeah, I was thinking like it'd be fun to like do a Gymkhana and like everyone screw around. like, I actually think there, I think I have two monkey around activities with your horse. One, we're gonna go ride on the beach. Two, we're gonna go for a trail ride. And I think that was right.

Crysta Brown: I know. Yeah, I want to trail ride. I think as far as monkey around, like maybe we're going to do like a theme day where I've got like animal safe paint and we're going to like, you know, put little hand prints on their butt and like have a cute little moment like that. But I don't see us. Yeah, like I see the fun being more that way, but like, I think we're going to be serious about our riding in this vibe of a camp. don't think I don't, cause I don't want a situation where it ends up unsafe.

Scott Cooper: Right, like let's put ravens in their hair for the session.

Crysta Brown: or somebody gets nervous, you know what I mean? And I just feel like if we've got a lot of all around writers and we're like, we're doing a pole bending, like somebody's gonna get bucked off. And I just don't want that. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: Right. Right. it's like, it's not gonna help anyone. But like, going on just a pretty trail ride, know, grab a Yeti drink and like, let's go trail riding.

Crysta Brown: But I think making people do like horse swapsies, that's really fun. And I think that's good for you as a rider Yeah, but I think it's up to my clinicians and I think I'm trusting my clinicians to like have activities, my showmanship. We're definitely doing Dixie cup showmanship where you hold the little water cups because that is good for all of you. But like it's fun, but like the intent is to better you. So like, that's how I think I'm doing it all. ⁓ But yeah, so, okay. Well, there we have it.

Scott Cooper: ⁓ 100 % yes. We are doing musical horses. Yeah.

Crysta Brown: We have planned our adult horse camp.

Scott Cooper: We have it. Look for brochures coming in 2027.

Crysta Brown: Absolutely. I mean, I want to go. I want this. I feel like I could organize it.

Scott Cooper: too. Can I run it and be an attendee at the same time?

Crysta Brown: Yeah, I feel like I could be a strong organizer of this. I feel like I could set the tone if I had enough workers. Volunteers. Yeah, it'll happen.

Scott Cooper: I I could see. Yeah, same, totally same. We just need some investments up front to rent out facilities.

Crysta Brown: As always with any of our plans if you would like to fund it contact at or show bestie at gmail.com

Scott Cooper: Right. If you just have money sitting around that you don't know what to do with, we will do something with it. Unfortunately.

Crysta Brown: I don't think that's our audience. But yeah, no, mean, as always, anything that we plan and dream, the fun of this is it's not real, so money doesn't have to exist in this world. So this is about joy. It could be real. I mean, I think realistically we could make this work.

Scott Cooper: Could be. Someone, clubs, if you wanna put this on, we'll be your consultants.

Crysta Brown: Yeah, I think there's a way to figure out how to make it work. Like you would probably have to tone down like the amount of your activities. And I think a lot of your people could probably do multiple things for you. And that would be a lot of like, you know, I think that would really help because I also imagine like I could probably swap some of my people in and out of seminars so I can like break my trainers, make sure they get to have a good time too. I definitely think all of my

Scott Cooper: Mm-mm.

Crysta Brown: clinicians and trainers. I'm like grouping where they have like a slightly separate campsite, but not completely away from everybody. But I'm going to give them the opportunity to like take breaks away and participate because I do think it can be a lot when you're coaching all day and you're also enforced fun. So I'm going to give them some options, but I'm going to let them have some camaraderie. They're all going to be like placed in the same area. I think that'll be fun for them too. So it's like a break for them. Yeah.

Scott Cooper: Yeah, yeah, kind of like counselors.

Crysta Brown: Yeah, exactly. They're the camp counselors. Well, Scott, this was fun. I know. We'll have to do this again soon. Yeah. Well, I think that's all we could possibly say. So guys, until next time, just remember, you can't be all of the good that the horse show world needs, but the horse show world needs all of the good that you can do. Bye.

Scott Cooper: This is fun. It's good to be back. So do this again sometime. Bye.